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African Journal of Microbiology Research Vol.
1 (3), 037-041, August 2007
© 2007 Academic Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Studies on the
antibacterial activity of root extracts
of Carica papaya L.
Doughari, J. H.*, Elmahmood, A. M.
and Manzara, S.
Department of Microbiology, Federal
University of Technology, P.M.B. 2076, Yola,
Adamawa State, Nigeria.
Accepted
16 July, 2007 |
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The bioactive compounds of root extracts of Carica papaya L. were
extracted, using water and organic solvents, and were investigated for
antibacterial activity against some pathogenic bacteria using the cup
plate agar diffusion method. The aqueous extracts did not show
significant activity, but the organic extracts had significant activity
with the methanol extracts demonstrating the highest activity against
the test bacteria. The extracts demonstrated higher activities against
all the gram-negative bacteria than the gram-positive bacteria tested,
with the highest activity (14 mm zone of inhibition) demonstrated
against Salmonella typhi. Increase in temperature enhanced
the activity of the extracts, while alkaline pH decreased the activity.
The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal
Concentration (MBC) of the extracts ranged between 50-200 mg/ml.
Preliminary phytochemical analyses showed that the extracts contain
alkaloids, tannins, saponins, glycosides and phenols. Carica papaya
may be used for the treatment of gastroenteritis, uretritis, otitis
media, typhoid fever and wound infections.
Key words:
Carica papaya L., antibacterial activity, phytochemical
analysis, antibiotics. |
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